by genesyx
agree with playing face up.Mechanically, playing it facedown would hide vital information such as VP and health, and may result in the anti-climatic endings.
" * flips up his board* owh btw guys, i won this round "
as for the "spirit of the game", IMO KoT is suppose to be a light game,where people trash talk,negotiate, gang up on the leader and try to squeeze a win out. What's the fun of the game if player just hides vital info and take away part of that fun? :(